Merchandise-holder



(No Model.) E MEINHARDT.

MERCHANDISE HOLDER'. No. 312,742.

'Patnbd Feb.. 24,1885.

U11 T] SL (1M/LJ f l Homey iINiTED STATES APATENT OEEicE.

HENRY MEINHAEDT, or PERU, INDIANA.

MERCHANDISE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent. No. 312,74 2, dated February 24, 1885.

` Application tiled January 17, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, HENRY MEINHAEDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Peru, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merchandise-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear,and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification,l and to the letters and gures of reference 'marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my improved holder, showing it suspended and an article held between the coils. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, with the device in position to retain the coils expanded or separatedfrom each other for introducing between them the articles to be exhibited; Fig. 3, a detail view in perspective of one of the heads to which the end of the `coiled wire is secured, and Fig. 4 a similar view of the device for retaining the coils expanded or separated from each other.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective device for exhibiting merchandisesuch as handkerchiefs, stockings, suspenders, and the likewhereby theycanbe suspendedandreadilyexaminedand removed, as the purchaser may desire, without injury or wear to the goods. Ihese objects I attain by a device constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a spirally and closely coiled wire of any suitable length and the coils of any suitable diameter. This spirally-coiled wire constitutes the holder, and has its ends preferably connected to suitable heads, B C, which may be provided with annular shoulders a, for securing thereto the ends of the wire by staples b or other convenient fastenings. Any suitable heads, however, may be substituted for those shown, and of any desirable shape; or they may be dispensed with altogether, and the extremities ofthe wire bent to form a loop, or in any shape so as to answer the purpose of heads but I prefer the construction as shown in the drawings as being more practical for the purpose intended.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the annular shoulder formed with a circumferential groove,into which is pressed or sprung the end of the wire coil, thus dispensing with the use of staples or other like fastenings, this as an illustration being one of the various means that may be employed for attachingv the ends of the wire coi-l to the heads. Thehead B is formed upon its inner side with a socket, c, and the head C with a keyhole, d, for the introduction of a suitable device for holding expanded or separated the coils oi' the holder, as shown in Fig. 2. The most convenient device that I have found for the purpose is the rod D, provided with a suitable handle, e, and key f.

When it is desired to supply the holder with articles of merchandise, the rod D is passed through the hole d in such position as to allow the key f to register with and pass through said hole when the coiled wire is suiiciently expanded, the end of the rod entering the socket c, to hold the rod in a perfectly-straight line and prevent it from slipping. Y After the coiled wire is distended, as shown in Fig. 2, the rod is turned to bring the key in a position at right angles to the key-hole, thus holding the coils of the wire separated sufficiently to enable the articles to be displayed, inserted one between each of the coils. This being done,the rod is turned so asto bring the key thereon in line 'with the key-hole, after which it is withdrawn,

when the contractive qualities of the coils will cause them to come together, as shown in Fig. l, thus firmly holding between them the articles, while at the same time they can be readily removed without danger of tearing or lotherwise injuring the goods and be conveniently examined by the customer.

If desired,the holder may bc provided with means for suspending it from a nail, cordfior wire, such as a hook, g, or other like deviceone at each end or at the center or any point along the holder.

Having now fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A merchandise-holder consisting of a spiral closely-coiled wire, in combination with a device for holding disten'ded the coiled wire, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 2. A merchandise-holder consisting of a closely-coiled wire having suitable heads con nected thereto, in combination with means,

IOO

, substantially as described, for holding disy able device i'or holding the coiled wire distended, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A merchandise-holder consisting of a closely-coiled wire having` connected to its ends suitable heads, one of which has a keyhole, in combination with a device for distending,` said wire coil,consisting of a rod provided with a key, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A merchandise-holder consisting of a elosely-eoiled Wire connected at its ends With shouldered heads, one of which has a key-hole, in combination with a device for distending the coiled Wire, consisting of a rod provided With a key, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I elaini the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY MEINHARDT.

Witnesses:

NoTT N. ANTRIM, J AMES M. BROWN. 

